Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1887-04-02

ercion bill were passed the last defence
Of the tenants against wholesale rob
berry would be removed. in justly-regu-
lated land-purchase lay the only hope
of settling the land question. If it was
done at fair prices and i'll the absence of
coercion irish tenants would fulfil their
obligations to the last penny. He
went on to complain of the absence of
official information concerning crime
in Ireland. The Government had given
them the opinion of four judges who
thought crime was seriously increasing.
He could quote twelve judges to show
the absence of serious crime. As to
the alleged failures of juries to con-
Wet, cases had been grossly exag-
gerated. They were utterly insufficient
grounds for destroying the liberties
of Ireland. The National League had
been called Tyranny; but there was
no proof that any pressure had been
put on any one to join the League. 1t
was purely national body. the out
come of genuine and popular feeling,
and no branch Of the League had ever
been known to exercise force in order to
impress the members Proceeding to
discuss the provisions Of the bill, Mr.
PANEL contcnded that the powers
Given to magistrates would enable
them to send political opponents
to prison for six months-to
a plank bed and prison diet. No part
of previous coercion acts had ever ex-
cited so much distrust Of English JUS
tee as the pIoposalto change the venue
of trials and bring lrishmen before
special English juries. The proposal
meant a reign of judicial murder. 1t
meant that all the hopes OF better
times winch seemed dawning upon Ire
land would disappear that system of
subornation of witnesses and wholesale
perjury before partisan juries was to
prevail, the sending of innocent per
sons TO the scaffold and convict's cell.
What was the only state of society that
could arise under this reign of terror ?
Secret societies would spring up, fos-
tered by the sufierings of an oppressed
nation, and those who had been persist
ent in counselling the people to observe
patience and moderation might counsel
in vain, but he would still counsel them
to submit to injustice rather than reta-
late or do anything that might drive
Gladstone from their side or increase
his difficulties or place him in false
position with the Liberals. Their bat
tie was now won in Ireland. [Cheers. l
There might be much suffering and
much tyranny yet to be endured, but
thev could be as nothing compared
with what the Irish people had gone
through in the past. A little waiting
and the eternity proposed for this bill
wonld disappear before brighter time,
when Gladstone would be able to APP
peal once more to the sense of justice
Of the people Of Great Britain and re-
ceive full power to do right to ireland.
ICheers. The party which alone could
gain by violence, by the people OF Ire
land going beyond The law, wasthe pres
ent Government. That was the reason
this bill had been brought forward
It's object was to strengthen the Gov
ernment's own miserable position. Let
not the people Of Ireland fall into the
foils thus set for them. He greatly
feared the results of the bill, but he
would not cease to tell them that the
situation was entirely different from
that of five years ago, and that for them
victory was certain. The people OF
Ireland would again bear the strain
with patience. Gladstone would not
find bis action hampered or his hands
sullied in the great and glorious work
he had undertaken. [Cheers.] He con
cluded by moving that the House re-
solve itself into committee TO consider
the state of ireland.
Lord Harrington, amid great laugh
ter. read letters from the Knight OF
Kerry, Lord Monck, and Others apply
ing On behalf of the friends Of rela-
tives for stipendiary magistrateships in
ireland. When asked where he had
obtained the letters he replied that he
bad bought them at auction. This an
swer was received with shouts of laugh
ter. Harrington proceeded to ex-
plain that the principal qualifications
urged in behalf of the applicants
were poverty and large families.
On being interrupted by cries Of
"divide," the speaker said he was
not surprised at the Impotence shown
by the gentlemen opposite upon the
exposure of these unpalatable facts; but
he had the right, he said, to show the
characters of the men at whose mercy
it was proposed to place the liberties OF
Irishmen.
Il. p. O'Connor moved to adjourn
the debate.
Gladstone, in supporting the mo-
ton. said there were strong rea-
sons for'it. He defended Parnelrs
DELAY in moving lis amendment, and
said this was a grave and serious case,
demanding another night for discus
sion. With reference 10 Parnell 5
speech Mr.. Gladstone said that he had
never known of an instance in which a
case made for such bill had been so
completely torn TO rags. Loud
cheers.
William H. Smith said he was not
much impressed by Gladstone's argu-
ment He complained because the
Parnellites had not risen sooner, ana
said he was unable to accede to O'Con-
nor's request. -
parneil supported 0'Connor's motion
Harrington tainted the Parnellltes
with having wasted time early IN the
evening in the croiter discussion. Inc
speeches, already delivered, he said'
were properly second-reading and com
mite speeches. Much time had al
ready beenrgiven to the Irish question.
| He would oppose an adjournment.
Sir William Vernon Harcourt said the
Unionist policy was now plainly shown;
| II was the policy of coercion, pure ard
simple. -
0Connors motion was rejected by Q
vote OF 26l to 254.
Upon Mr.. Smith putting the CUES,
ton Mr.. Gladstone rose and walked
alone down the floor into thu
| opposition lobby, al the members
81 III opposisiop, alanding sna cheer
y r e - A q ~ - r ~ =. -tI.